ROLE OF MEDIA IN CONDEMNING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Ankita Yadav
LL.M.- 2nd Semester
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University
Phone No. -9453014362
Email Address- ankita2189yadav@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION
The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses. - Malcolm X
Media is considered fourth pillar of a country thus it has lots of responsibility towards society. Media in a democratic country is considered to be a pedagogue of freedom and making society aware about the realities by reporting. It has to reflect the realities of society and report the truth in order to protect the basic human rights especially of marginalised sections of society like women.
In Indian society, woman occupies a vital position but unfortunately venerable place. The Vedas glorified women as the mother, the creator, one who gives life and worshipped her as a ‘Devi’ or Goddess. It can be inferred via a relatively high position occupied by the women in Rig Vedic era, where they were part of the governance institutes like Sabha and Samiti. India's major religion i.e Hinduism portrays women as a representation of power i.e. Shakti in the form of Durga and Kali. From Vedic period onwards to the mid of 19th century, the condition of women kept on deteriorating. They were excluded from education, property and cultural rituals, and their primary motive of the, life was just an assistance of some male figure. After independence also Government tried to give women rights through various laws and policies, which were effective in a way but was not sufficient to give Indian women equal protection that is need.
Violence against women is mainly result of gender relations that assumes men to be superior. Both cultural and social factors are related with the development and propagation of violent behaviour against women. From the date of birth she is considered to be weak and in need of protection which leads to her exploitation at every stage of life whether economic, social, and psychological. Crime against women are increasing day by day. Lot is done in order to prevent the crime but that is not sufficient. But the one organ in society which is playing its part in order to curb crime against women is media. Various reporting of incidents of crime helps to make people aware about what’s happening around them and how women are treated.
The news media are vital part of the process by which individuals private troubles with crime are made public i.e. public is informed about the issues. Media collects and report about the crime against women in order to bring to the conscious of public about the crime.
CRIME AGAINST WOMEN
Women regardless of their age, race, caste etc. are victims of physical, sexual and economic violence. According to the 1993 UN General Assembly, violence of gender against women is defined as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life’ (UN, 1994). Violence against women has its origins in the patriarchal structure that oppresses women (Amorós, 1990).
It is the manifestation of the historically unequal power relations between men and women which have resulted in the domination and discrimination of women in Indian society.
As an institutional response, global, regional and national organisations have taken significant steps towards state action to eliminate violence against women. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is the international bill of rights for women. This is the first international instrument to define violence against women and to set an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
Data shows that crime against women in India is increasing. The World Economic Forum has placed India in the 101st position among 136 countries in the 2013 edition of an annual report that makes a global assessment of the progress made in bridging the gender gap. Although women may be victims of any of the general crimes such as ‘murder’, ‘robbery’, ‘cheating’, etc, only the crimes which are directed specifically against women are characterised as ‘crimes against women’. Various new legislations have been brought and amendments have been made in existing laws with a view to handle these crimes effectively. As per NCRB a total of 3,09,546 cases of crime against women (both under various sections of IPC and SLL)were reported in the country during the year 2013 as compared to 2,44,270 in the year 2012, thus showing an increase of 26.7% during the year 2013. These crimes have continuously increased in reporting during 2009 - 2013 with 2,03,804 cases in 2009 and 2,13,585 cases in 2010 and 2,28,649 cases in 2011, 2,44,270 cases 2012 and 3,09,546 cases in the year 2013. Kofi Annan had rightly observed that, "Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and perhaps the most pervasive."

USING MEDIA TO FIGHT CRIME AGAINST WOMEN
Media has a goal of educating public about crime, victim and impact on individual and communities. Reliable and trusting relationships between victim service providers and the media can help reach this goal and ensure that crime victims and survivors are treated with dignity and respect by the news media. Victim assistance organizations and the news media often rely on “the power of the personal story” of crime victims and survivors to relay the often devastating impact that crime has on their lives and on the lives of their family. Reporting by media about the victims of acid attack attack not only tells about the act but also narrates their journey for life. When crime victims are provided with guidance and resources to help them speak out, they become passionate, articulate spokespersons to address victims’ needs, rights, and concerns. Crime against women is to be reported with utmost care and responsibility as careless reporting may lead to adverse effect. News media—newspapers, television, magazines, and online news Web sites—have an enormous impact on how people view crime and victimization in the country. It is important for media person to understand the unique role the media play and the impact they have on various groups.
In India many a time media has been helpful in providing justice to women by reporting a crime and bringing it into a lime light. Like in Priyadarshini Mattoo case, Jessica Lal case, Delhi gang rape case and recently uber taxi rape cases etc. wherein media played vital role. Daily reporting of crime against women also makes people informed about the crimes against women. Various safety measures advertised about how to protect oneself helps in many ways to prevent future harm. Rape coverage in the media has many effects in society. It often shapes the way in which people think about rape, as well as how they receive rape victims, rapists and those accused of rape. Thus, the media coverage of crime against women especially rape is very important area. Other crimes related to women also need to be looked upon with utmost care and caution.
DEALING WITH SPECIFIC CRIMES
.As women may be victims of any of the general crimes such as ‘murder’, ‘robbery’, ‘cheating’, etc., only the crimes which are directed specifically against women are characterised as ‘crimes against women’. in reporting special crime against women media need to be little sensitised. Like in dealing with assault, rape, sexual harassment etc. reporters need to be more trained. The trauma that sexual assault and rape inflicts on victims, as well as the stigma still associated with the crime, makes reporting on victims of sexual violence especially daunting. It is important for all media persons to understand that sexual assault is not a crime about sex but about violence, power, and control. Journalists should avoid reporting details about the assault in ways that imply the victim’s behaviour caused the crime (walking alone at night, drinking alcohol). Media should be their own ombudsmen in ensuring that women are not depicted in poor light. Media should play a proactive role in inculcating gender sensitivity even from childhood and within family. Media should never be judgemental of every situation and should report the exact facts and situation. Media should keep in mind that names and face of victim and its family should not be disclosed. In Delhi gang rape case reporting by media is appreciable. Victim’s right to privacy is to be respected and should be given importance over people’s right to know.
On the other end of the spectrum are those eager to mete out justice to perpetrators. And sometimes in our effort to be objective we take liberties of shaming the guilty before the due trial. Names and faces are splashed all over the media, like it is our moral duty to drive justice home. This isn't justice, it's vigilantism! We must refrain from being judgemental.
SOME LEADING CASES AND ROLE OF MEDIA
The Jessica Lal murder case happened on fateful night of April 29 1999 where Jessica Lal, a model who was serving liquor at a high profile party in New Delhi was shot dead because of a simple reason that she had refused to serve a drink as the bar had been closed. Manu Sharma along with his friends asked her endlessly for drinks thinking that she would agree but she refused to make a drink for him as bar was closed. Due to this argument she was shot dead by the man. The case was not taken up as Manu Sharma, son of a politician in Haryana was an influential person and the police did not register the case initially.
The murder was a high profile murder case and it involved some influential people. It included businessmen, people from page 3 etc. But the sad part was that most of the witnesses got influenced by Manu Sharma's father because of his power. A total of 32 witnesses who were present at that time became hostile and refused to agree to the facts that were cropping up.
The Jessica Lal murder case was one such case in which media played an important role in getting justice for Jessica. There were protests in every part of the country and media acted like the most indispensable mouth piece to carry the momentum which changed the waves of injustice which was corroding the Jessica Lal case. The media, along with Sabrina Lal (Jessica’s sister) successfully organized a candle light vigil in front of India Gate in New Delhi. Various support groups were formed to support the cause of “miscarriage of justice”, as termed by the media.
Priyadarshini Mattoo Case : The rape and murder case of Priyadarshini Mattoo and its subsequent lengthy trial came into the limelight soon after the Jessica Lal murder case. Priyadarshini Mattoo was a 23-year old law student, living in Delhi. She was found raped and murdered at her New Delhi residence on 23rd January, 1996. The prime accused in this case was Santosh Kumar Singh, Mattoo’s senior in her college. Singh had been harassing and stalking Mattoo, both “in person and over the phone” for about two years prior to killing her in the most gruesome way. In trail in district case he was acquitted stating lack of direct evidence. Then matter was reported by media and came to limelight. Media used its powerful tool of investigative journalism to find out the lapses in the murder case and very soon it was bringing into the public’s notice, how justice was denied to Priyadarshini Mattoo. This created a massive wave of uproar in the masses who were demanding that the case be reopened and justice was done.
Delhi Gang Rape case: Media coverage in Delhi Gang rape is really appreciable. The mortal gang rape of a 23 year old student on a moving bus in Delhi captured media headlines not only in India but across the world due to the horrific and brutal manner in which this crime was committed. Reporting of the rape and death of 23 year old medical student not only shaken the people but also the Government. The Delhi gang rape was followed by the violent protests in Delhi at Indian Gate, Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan, Vijay Chowk and Rashtrapati Bhawan. These protests have been mentioned as a reaction of ‘utter shock and anguish’ which is ‘justified’. At some places, these protests have been referred to as violent, ‘goondaraj’ (hooliganism) and ‘vandalism’, and the protestors as ‘hooligans’. Media hype not only brought justice to victim but also made many amendments in Indian Penal Code for the protection of women.

Conclusion
Media is considered to be mirror of society and in every civilised society media is essential part of it. Mind of the people at large is controlled by media as it has immense power to influence the masses. Therefore media should always be active in reporting the incidents of public importance. Role of media have always been valuable about creating awareness about the crime in society especially against women. It has always been proactive in highlighting social issues such as oppression of women and violence against weaker section of society. Power of media can be seen from above case how it can bring the case in public domain and makes it debatable among people, invoke awareness and change in attitude in order to protect and promote respect for women in India.
Some more measures are need to be taken by media in order to promote women protection such as media should devote special slots for crime against women and discuss all proactive measures which can be take in order to control crime against them. Constitutional, legal rights, rules, latest judgments should be discussed so that people are made aware especially women.
The media should be sensitized to gender issues and must focus on women issues in a decisive way as their role is detrimental for the women empowerment in India. The distant dream of safe society for women in India can be realized with the support of media. As Swami Vivekananda rightly said that “The nation which doesn't respect women will never become great…..”. So, in order to make India great we have to first ensure that women are not only respected but protected against crime and for this all organs have to work in direction to give women much deserved status.

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